Our hearty No Mac-n-Cheese is a delicious, cheesy recipe is reminiscent of your favorite mac-n-cheese, without the carb-laden pasta.
While this hearty dish is already low carb, if you follow a keto lifestyle, check out our keto no mac-n-cheese version instead.
How to Make No Mac-n-Cheese
Cut the cauliflower into florets and steam them until they are slightly tender. I use a silicone steamer pan and cook the vegetables for about 4 minutes.
While the cauliflower is steaming, grate the cheddar cheese. I don’t recommend using preshredded cheese because it contains cellulose starch to protect from clumping. This anti-clumping agent makes it difficult to achieve a smooth cheese sauce.
Next, melt the butter in a medium saucepan, whisk in the flour and garlic and cook for 1 full minute, stirring constantly.
Add the milk, stirring constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens, remove from heat and stir in cheese, cayenne pepper, and egg yolks, whisking constantly until very smooth. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Generously spritz a 9×13 pan with cooking spray, add steamed cauliflower florets, pour cheese sauce over the cauliflower, making sure to coat all pieces well.
Top the no mac-n-cheese with Panko breadcrumbs. If you’d like the breadcrumbs to brown as well mist them lightly with olive oil.
Bake the casserole at 350°F for 30 minutes. This can be served as a main dish or a side dish, however you’d like. Also, for a gluten-free option use 1 1/2 Tablespoons of arrowroot powder or tapioca flour in place of the flour.
No Mac-n-Cheese Recipe
You’ll Need:
1 large head cauliflower (1 1/2 lb.), cut into medium florets (8 cups)
2 Tbs. butter
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground White Pepper
2 egg yolks
1 c. Panko Breadcrumbs (*optional)
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Steam the cauliflower florets until slightly tender. You can do this by boiling a pot of water- salt it lightly, and cooking them for approx 6 minutes or by using a vegetable steamer pan and cooking for 4 minutes in the microwave.
In the meantime, in a medium saucepan melt butter, whisk in flour and cook for 1 full minute, whisking constantly.
Add garlic and milk, stirring constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens, remove from heat and stir in cheese, cayenne pepper, and egg yolks, whisking constantly until smooth.
Spray a 9×13 pan generously with cooking spray, add steamed cauliflower florets, pour cheese sauce over the cauliflower, making sure to coat all pieces well. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs (lightly spray breadcrumbs with cooking spray if you want them to brown well!), bake at 350°F for 30 minutes
Keto No Mac-n-Cheese
1 large head cauliflower (1 1/2 lb.), cut into medium florets (8 cups)
2 Tbs. butter
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
2 cups half & half cream
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground White Pepper
1 c. Pork Rind Panko
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Steam the cauliflower florets until slightly tender.
In the meantime, in a medium saucepan melt butter, add the garlic and cook lightly.
Add xanthan gum and half & half, stirring constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens, remove from heat and stir in cheese, cayenne pepper, and egg yolks, whisking constantly until smooth.
Spray a 9×13 pan generously with cooking spray, add steamed cauliflower florets, Season with salt and pepper. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower, making sure to coat all pieces well. Sprinkle with pork panko crumbs bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
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